Materials created/collected by Bob Leadbetter. Lord of the Flies

Transcription

1 Lord of the Flies Setting the scene The story begins as a evacuating children from a war zone crashes on a remote in the tropics. The only survivors are a group of boys. There is,, the members of a choir school led by, and an assortment of others of different ages. They are brought together when Ralph and Piggy find a and Ralph blows it. They elect Ralph to be of the group and he lets Jack be in charge of the. Jack decides his choir will be hunters. Ralph, Jack and Simon (one of the choir) explore the island and find that it is uninhabited. Getting organized The boys have regular meetings. Whoever holds the has the right to. Some of the little boys talk about being afraid of a they think they see at night. They agree to build shelters to sleep in and to keep a burning on the mountain to give a smoke signal. Jack says his hunters will be responsible for keeping the fire going. They realize one of the small boys is missing, probably dead. Ralph and a few others build shelters while Jack and his group hunt. They let the fire go out. A passes but there is no smoke. When the hunters return with the they have killed there is a bitter argument between the two groups. Jack s group acts out the killing as a ritual. This becomes a part of the hunt. Things go wrong Most of the boys begin to behave irresponsibly and refuses to the rules. They talk about the beast and being afraid. A dies parachuting onto the mountain. The boys think this figure is the beast and are terrified. Jack breaks away from Ralph and forms his own group, which becomes a tribe of savages. they kill a pig and leave its as an offering for the beast. Death and rescue sees the on a stick and has an imaginary with it. He climbs the to find out what the beast really is. As he comes down the mountain to tell the others what he has found, all the others, having had a huge feast, are performing a ritual. They think Simon is the beast and attack and him. Ralph s group is now very and finds it hard to keep the going. Jack s tribe raids them to Piggy s glasses to light their fire. Ralph s group goes to ask Jack for Piggy s glasses to be returned. As they confront Jack s tribe, Piggy is killed and Jack attacks Ralph. Ralph s last two are taken prisoner. Ralph escapes and hides in the forest. Jack and his tribe Ralph, intending to him. They roll rocks, then set fire to the island to him out. A passing sees this smoke and pulls in to the boys.

2 Who s Who? Ralph Ralph is twelve years old with blond hair, and is the most charismatic of the group. He is dependable, responsible, kind and a sensitive leader. He wants their society to operate in a democratic and civilized way and is distressed when things go wrong. He shows physical courage, such as when he forces himself to climb the mountain and face the beast, and moral courage in the way he admits his part in Simon s murder. He struggles to continue believing that people are fundamentally good. Ralph represents the values of civilization and democratic rule, which are eventually defeated by the evil contained within society. Jack Jack is about Ralph s age, with a skinnier build, red hair, and freckled. He has a fierce and aggressive desire to lead and control. At the start he controls the choir with military discipline and at the end he rules his tribe of savages with the weapons of fear and torture. He overcomes and suppresses the civilized restraints that originally prevented him from killing a pig and surrenders himself to his violent and bloodthirsty instincts. He finds fulfillment in exercising power over others. His beating of Wilfred is a cruel abuse of his power. His ability to tell people what they want to hear allows him to overtake Ralph as chief. Piggy Piggy is a short and overweight boy who wears glasses. He represents order and democracy. He is afflicted with asthma and doesn t care to do strenuous work. These contribute in making him and outsider. His common sense and scientific point of view make him an adult-type figure. He shows unswerving loyalty to Ralph and to the end believes in the values represented by the conch. He can be morally dishonest and is unimaginative; his is the smartest boy on the island but has no social skills. His worth while qualities gradually emerge, and in the end he is seen courageously standing up for sense and rational behavior. His glasses are a very important part of the book. His constant polishing of them shows his desire for farsightedness and civilization. Simon Simon is younger than the older boys but older than the littluns. He is considered a saint, a lover of mankind. He is very good and pure, and has the most positive outlook. He often retreats to his own secret den. He meets up with a pig head skewered on a stick, which becomes knows as the Lord of the Flies. Simon is killed soon afterward by all of the boys who were caught up in a savage dance. Like martyrs who die for others, he is killed as he tries to tell the boys the truth about their situation.

3 Roger Roger is a small boy with dirty and shaggy black hair. He represents pure evil and wrongness. He has no mercy, and is the first one to intentionally kill another boy when he smashed Piggy with a boulder. He gets sadistic pleasure from torturing a pig and other boys on the island. Roger is one of Jack s loyal helpers, and gladly carries out his orders. Sam and Eric Sam and Eric are two young twins who always travel and do everything together. They are so similar that they are turned into one being, Samneric (SAM+E=SAME). They are good-natured cheerful boys who mean well and support Ralph, but are not strong enough to stand up to Jack. They want to do the right thing but don t have sufficient personal resources to defend civilized behavior to the bitter end. They represent reliance and unity. Littluns The littluns are the very young boys, aged about six, who lead a quite distinct life of their own. They play and eat fruit that makes them ill, and suffer from fears and nightmares. They introduce the idea of the beast. We know one or two of them by name. Percival is a frightened little boy who is tormented by nightmares and pathetically recites his name and address like a charm that will protect him. He is tormented by Johnny, who displays natural belligerence, and Henry, whom we see absorbed in exercising control over living things as he prods sea creatures with a stick. Symbolism Piggy (and glasses) Ralph, (the Conch Simon Roger Jack The Island The Scar The Beast The Fire Lord of the Flies Clear-sightedness, intelligence, social order Democracy, Order Pure goodness, Christ Figure Evil Satan Savagery, Anarchy A microcosm representing the world Man s destruction destructive forces The evil residing within everyone, the dark side Unity The Devil, great danger or evil

4 Summary Chapter 1 efflorescence enmity decorous chorister bastion hiatus A group of boys is stranded on a desert island, following a plane crash They find a shell called a Conch and they blow it The noise it makes brings boys from all directions The choir arrives with Jack leading them They vote for chief and Ralph is elected Ralph makes Jack leader of the choir Jack says the choir will be hunters Ralph, Jack and Simon explore the island They find a piglet but Jack can t kill it 1. What do you learn about Ralph when he reacts to Piggy by ignoring him and doesn t ask Piggy his name? 2. Why do you think Piggy confides his name to Ralph? 3. Why would Piggy pretend that the idea to call using the shell was Ralph s? 4. How does Jack react to Simon fainting? 5. Are you surprised that Piggy is treated as an outsider? Why? 6. What reasons does Jack give why he should be chief? 7. Why does Ralph offer the leadership of the choir to Jack Chapter 2 ebullience recrimination tumult tirade Ralph calls a meeting to report back what they have found: they make rules Small boy speaks about being frightened of a beastie or snake-thing Ralph says is doesn t exist, Jack says they will hunt it Ralph talks about rescue and building a fire on top of the mountain They build a pile of wood, no matches, Jack uses Piggy s glasses The fire gets out of control, piggy expresses how foolish they are The little boy with the birthmark is missing 1. Why is it important that there are no adults on the island? 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the conch? 3. What will Jack do to people who break rules? 4. What is your interpretation of the Beast? 5. With what do you associate snakes? Chapter 3 oppressive inscrutable vicissitudes declivities tacit Jack hunts a pig but doesn t kill it Ralph talks about shelters and rescue Simon goes off by himself to a secret place in the forest 1. What does Jack sometimes experience in the forest? 2. How is Simon s view of the island different from Ralph s and Jack s? 3. What do you think about Jack s compulsion to kill a pig?

5 Chapter 4 blatant taboo sinewy malevolently They adapt to a new life The older ones spoil the littluns play Jack paints his face They see smoke from a ship but the signal fire has gone out The hunters return with a slaughtered pig Jack and Ralph clash Jack hits Piggy and breaks his glasses The pig is roasted, Ralph calls an assembly 1. Why does Piggy continue to be an outsider? 2. What decision does Ralph have to make with regard to the fire? 3. Why doesn t Jack seem to care about not being rescued? 4. Why doesn t Ralph hit Jack? Chapter 5 ludicrous ineffectual jeer inarticulate During the assembly Ralph is critical of their behavior They talk of their fears of the beast and the littluns nightmares The assembly disintegrates and Ralph loses control of the assembly Jack refuses to obey the rules and leaves Ralph thinks he ought to stop being chief There are now two separate groups 1. Why does Jack humiliate Simon when he tries to explain what he means? 2. Why do you think the littluns think they need to project their feelings onto something physical? 3. What do you think makes Jack dismiss the rules and break up the assembly? 4. Why does Piggy have a greater understanding of people than Ralph does? 5. Are things breaking down because there are no adults on the island? Chapter 6 leviathan clamor mutinously Pilot parachutes from battle and lands in the mountaintop Body keeps moving so they think it s the beast They decide to hunt the beast Ralph insists on relighting the fire Simon doesn t believe in this beast, they explore the rest of the island 1. Now that they believe the beast is on the mountaintop, what could happen to the fire? 2. Ralph agrees to explore the end of the island, why does he agree to do this? 3. Does anyone support Ralph? 4. What differences do you see between this exploration and the first one?

6 Chapter 7 crestfallen impervious enterprise Ralph daydreams as the continue their search Ralph spears a boar They go up the mountain and Simon goes back to join Piggy They see the parachutist, are terrified and run back down the hill 1. How do you think Simon know what Ralph is thinking? 2. Ralph gains respect when he spears a pig, but not when he insists on living in a civilized world. Why? 3. Should they have gone on and climbed the mountain in the dark? 4. Who is at home in the forest? Chapter 8 glowered rebuke demure fervor Ralph and Jack report back to the others Jack challenges Ralph for the leadership, but loses the vote and leaves Simon thinks they should climb the mountain and goes off by himself They notice lots of hunters have gone to Jack Piggy suggests building the fire near the platform Jack appoints himself chief They kill a sow and leave the head on a stick as a sacrifice to the beast Simon sees the killing and the pig s head Ralph and Piggy talk about the breakup of their society Jack and his tribe steal sticks from the others fire and invite them to a feast 1. Which of Jack s criticisms do you think are valid? 2. Do you blame those who choose Jack instead of Ralph? 3. Is Jack to blame for everything that goes wrong, or are there events that are not directly his fault? 4. Why do the boys follow Jack obediently? 5. Would it be easier for Simon to join the others and believe in the beast? Chapter 9 corpulent sauntered Simon reaches the mountaintop and frees the dead pilot He starts down the mountain to tell the others Ralph and Piggy decide to go to Jack s feast Ralph challenges his leadership The storm breaks and Jack orders them to dance Simon crawls out of the forest and they see him as the beast They batter Simon to death and his body is carried out to sea 1. Do you think Simon is brave? 2. Why do Ralph and Piggy decide to go to Jack s feast? 3. What do you feel about Simon s death? Could he have saved himself? Do you think he should have? 4. Why did they chant Kill the beast instead of Kill the pig!? 5. What kind of people are usually painted with an aura of light around their heads? 6. What kind of leader has Jack become? How much has he changed?

7 Chapter 10 compelled Ralph and Piggy discuss Simon s death; Sam and Eric and a few littluns left Jack rules Castle Rock He warns that the beast may come again in disguise Ralph, Piggy, Sam and Eric try to keep the fire lit Jack s group attacks and they take Piggy s glasses 1. Why does Ralph laugh when Piggy suggests he call an assembly? 2. Do you think Simon died because he asked for it? If not then why did he die? 3. What is the effect and purpose of Jack s paint? 4. Why does Ralph need to suppose every night? 5. Why did they launch a vicious raid? Why didn t they take the conch? Chapter 11 luminous myopia sniveling quavered parried talisman Ralph calls an assembly; they decide to visit Jack to get Piggy s glasses back Confrontation between Ralph and Jack Jack orders Sam and Eric to be tied up Ralph and Jack fight Piggy is killed Jack wounds Ralph with his spear: Ralph escapes into the forest Roger prepares to torture the twins 1. The tiny assembly still uses the conch, why? 2. Is Piggy realistic about his approach to Jack? 3. Can they ever be like they were? 4. Why does Jack order Sam and Eric to be tied up? 5. What is the importance of Piggy s death and the destruction of the conch? Chapter 12 acrid cordon elephantine epaulettes Ralph is alone and hiding and heads toward Castle Rock Ralph comes face to face with the skull of the pig s head Sam and Eric are tortured for speaking to Ralph Sam and Eric reveal his hiding place Jack sends rocks crashing down and set the forest on fire Ralph being surrounded breaks out and runs to the beach A naval officer is standing over him The savages come forward and all cry The officer waits for them to pull themselves together 1. What is the indefinable connection between Ralph and Jack? What does Jack need to destroy? 2. Do you think Ralph realizes what they intend to do with him? 3. What kind of world are the boys returning to? 4. Who knows the real meaning of war and humanity?

8 Lord of the Flies Questions to Ponder 1. At the end of the book Ralph Piggy as his true, wise friend. Do you agree with this view of Piggy? 2. Which character in Lord of the Flies do you most admire? Why? 3. It has often been said that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Discuss how this statement is proven true by incidents in this novel. 4. Discuss the differences between the way the boys saw themselves and the officer saw them. 5. Do you believe that humans in a state of absolute freedom have a tendency toward evil or toward good. 6. Why did Golding set this story on a deserted island? 7. What does it mean to say that Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel? What are the important symbols? 8. What if anything might the dead parachutist symbolize? 9. What role do the littluns play in the novel? 10. Of all the characters, it is Piggy who most often has useful ideas and sees the correct way for the boys to organize themselves. Yet the other boys rarely listen to him and frequently abuse him. Why do you think this is the case?

9 Lord of the Flies Unit Test 1. Whose responsibility is it to maintain the first signal fire? A. Piggy s B. The hunters C. Sam and Eric s D. The littluns 2. What powers does Jack ascribe to the beast after Simon s murder? A. Immortality and the power to change shape B. Telepathy and the power to change shape C. Immortality and telepathy D. Enormous strength and murderous cunning 3. How does the first boy disappear? A. Roger crushes him with a boulder B. The other boys kill him with their bare hands C. A boar gores him D. He burns to death when the signal fire ignites the forest 4. Who is the first boy to disappear? A Piggy B. Simon C. Clark D. A littlun 5. Where does the beast go during the day, according to one littleun? A. Into the ocean B. Into the air C. Into the fire D. Into the caves near the Castle Rock 6. Who sees the dead parachutist first? A. Ralph B. Sam and Eric C. Jack D. Piggy 7. Which character speaks to the Lord of the Flies? A. Phil B. Ralph C. Piggy D. Simon 8. What lures the navy ship to the island? A. The fire in the jungle B. The roar of the beast C. The signal fire D. The shortwave radio 9. Who does Jack strike shortly after his first kill? A. Ralph B. Francis C. Piggy D. Roger 10. When Piggy is killed what else is destroyed? A. The shortwave radio B. The conch shell C. The Lord of the Flies D. The signal fire 11. What is Ralph s first act upon being elected leader? A. Planning the building of the signal fire B. Naming Piggy his chief advisor C. Naming Simon the leader of the mystics D. Naming Jack the leader of the hunters 12. What object does Ralph clutch when he talks about Simon s murder? A. The sow s head B. The conch shell C. Piggy s glasses D. A spear 13. Who is the only boy to kill someone on the island by himself? A. Piggy B. Jack C. Roger D. Robert 14. What does Jack suggest the boys use as the pig in their dance-like reenactment of the hunt? A. A littlun B. Piggy C. Ralph D. Ralph 15. Which boy treats the littluns with the most kindness? A. Simon B. Jack C. Piggy D. Ralph 16. Which boy would rather hunt than build huts? A. Simon B. Jack C. Piggy D. Ralph

10 The Lord of the Flies Unit Test (Continued) 17. Where is Jack s tribe headquarters? A. Next to Ralph s B. On the mountain of the beast C. Deep in the jungle D. At the rock 18. What tool or tools do the boys use to make fire? A. A flint and steel B. Ralph s tinderbox C. Piggy s glasses D. Matches from the airplane 19. What is the boys home country? A. England B. Australia C. New Zealand D. Canada 20. Who kills Piggy? A. Ralph B. Roger C. Sam and Eric D. Simon 21. What surrounds Simon s body as it fgloats into the sea? A. Sharks B. Eels C. A cloud of blood D. Glowing fish 22. Who knocks the Lord of the Flies to the ground? A. Ralph B. Roger C. Simon D. Piggy 23. On what obstruction does the dead parachutist become tangled? A. Tree limbs B. Jagged rocks C. The roof of the hut D. The Castle Rock 24. Who tells Jack where Ralph is hiding in Chapter 12? A. Simon B. Roger C. A littlun D. Sam and Eric 25. Which boy does not dance at jack s first feast? A. Simon B. Ralph C. Piggy D. Jack How does Jack use the beast to control the other boys? What does it mean to say that Lord of the Flies is an allegorical novel? What are its important symbols? Which character in Lord of the Flies do you most admire? What does he do or say that makes you admire him Show how Ralph changes during the course of the novel, show why the changes occurred Do you believe that humans in a state of absolute freedom have a tendency toward evil or toward good? Explain your answer, drawing your argument from Lord of the Flies.